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New York Times

Legal Watchdog Files Bar Complaints Against Career Justice Dept. Lawyers

A legal watchdog group accused three career Justice Department lawyers of professional misconduct on Thursday, saying they had made false statements to a federal judge in a high-profile case challenging the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The accusations by the group, the Legal Accountability Center, were formally filed with the grievance committees of bar associations in Washington and other cities where the lawyers lived or practiced. The move represented a rare attempt to seek professional sanctions against rank-and-file department lawyers who have appeared in court on behalf of the federal government. 'The rule of law is under direct assault right now, and its greatest threat comes when those within the legal system fail to do their duties and stand up against the attack,' said Michael Teter, the executive director of the group. 'The message that needs to be heard by all attorneys representing the government is that even though the Trump administration isn't interested in following the rules, we are watching.' The bar complaints against the three lawyers — Eric J. Hamilton, Brad P. Rosenberg and Liam C. Holland — came at an extraordinary moment of tension between the Justice Department and many of the federal judges who have been hearing challenges to President Trump's policies. Judges across the country have repeatedly called out department lawyers for violating their orders and even for destroying the bonds of trust that the government has traditionally been afforded when its representatives appear in court. The administration and its allies have often responded with lacerating verbal attacks, including threats of impeachment. Just this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media that the department had filed its own misconduct complaint against Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge of Federal District Court in Washington who has handled several prominent cases involving Mr. Trump. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.